Thank you so so much to PenguinTeen for my e-ARC!

First of this cover is absolutely adorable and secondly I really love this premise. Sounds like the setup for a super fun teen romcom movie!

I really loved all of the interesting dynamics and cultural insights into the Korean-American lifestyle. Also the personalities of each character were really well-crafted.

Unfortunately for me I could not connect to them, nor could I feel any chemistry between the main leads. It was difficult to get into the story with that in mind. However, I do believe this is a wonderful story and probably better suited for someone who is 14-18 years and not in their 20s like me.

Beautiful concept and story, just wasn't for me specifically.

Thank you again PenguinTeen!

4.25 stars

I am a sucker for a road trip story. Forced proximity and shared new experiences? Yes, please. It’s a tried and true formula, and while this book didn’t break any molds, it was such a delight to read. The characters felt like real and distinct people with relatable flaws, and a great and unique dynamic. Banter can make or break a book for me, especially when the plot’s focus is the characters’ relationship, but this was top tier. I was cracking up, highlighting tons of lines, and sending them to friends.

Winter and Bobby have been family friends for years, and rivals just as long. As the only two Korean Americans in their class, they’re tired of constantly being pushed together, and competing for first in their class doesn’t help the tension. Unfortunately for them, both sets of their parents have drawn a line in the sand: neither of them can go on their college-visiting road trip alone, they have to go together.

Winter and Bobby are both rule followers, and their relationship is no different—they’ve had strict rules for their interactions for years, and this trip only prompts more. But after being called out by Winter’s grandmother, the two challenge themselves to break some rules for once. Within moderation, of course.

Bobby is self-regulating but sensitive and people-pleasing in a way I haven’t seen much from MMCs, and Winter is ambitious and independent to the point of being self-isolating, and generally confused by emotions. I really enjoyed the way they played off of each other, and would be hard-pressed to pick a favorite between them. Bobby’s friend Kai was definitely the best side character, though, facilitating chaos and being a general bisexual disaster.

It doesn’t take long for the two to realize that, like a lot of teens, when faced with decisions that will set the course of the rest of their lives, they may not know themselves or each other quite as well as they’d thought. And sometimes things not going perfectly to plan isn’t such a bad thing.

Thanks to Penguin Teen and the author for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you penguinteen and netgalley for providing this ARC.

Bobby Bae and Winter Park have been rivals since as long as they can remember, so much so that they have constructed rules of how to act around each other. When plans to see colleges come up, their parents encourage them to travel to see the prospective schools together. Begrudgingly they do but what begins as a trip of butting heads and bickering turns into a trip of self discovery and comfort that one another didn’t know they could find in each other…

This book was exactly what I needed at this point of time. It was cute and charming, and balanced with some angst and cheesiness. I enjoyed going on the physical and emotional journey Bobby and Winter go through to learn more about themselves and each other while breaking some rules along the way. And although the book didn’t pull any tears from me, I got a little misty eyed near the end. This book would be great for young readers who like a light, fluffy, well paced read.

I did find the idea of their parents allowing them to go on this trip unbelievable. The trust in their kids was so strong (but they are good kids)! Couldn’t be my parents, haha. But as unbelievable as I found the idea, I didn’t mind it going into the story.

There are times throughout the book where I felt a dissonance between the narrative voice and the two protagonists' internal thoughts. For example, when Winter encounters the exhibit of Marthe, the last known living passenger pigeon, and relates her loneliness to it. Not that teens don’t think in deep thought provoking patterns but the paragraphs would be so long that I felt pulled out of the story; no longer in the mind of a sixteen year old girl but maybe an older version of the characters who were reflecting on these times. It didn’t ruin my reading experience but it was a bit distracting.

As for the ending: the conclusion dragged on far more than it needed to. And what I believe was supposed to be a funny call back for the final scene made for an abrupt and annoying ending instead of humorous. But again, it didn’t ruin my reading experience.

Overall it was a solid debut and I’d read another work by this author.

"Rules for Rule Breaking" by Talia Tucker is a captivating YA novel that takes readers on a heartwarming journey of self-discovery and teenage rebellion. The story follows Winter and Bobby, childhood frenemies turned academic rivals, as they embark on a road trip to explore college campuses and prepare for their futures.

The dynamic between Winter and Bobby is filled with delightful banter and competitive spirit, making their evolving relationship a compelling aspect of the narrative. The slow-burn friends-to-lovers theme adds a sweet touch to the overall plot, providing a refreshing take on romance.

While the story is generally light-hearted, there are moments of depth and self-discovery that add substance to the characters' journey. The portrayal of Korean American representation adds a unique cultural layer, enriching the narrative and offering readers a glimpse into the characters' struggles with identity and belonging.

However, the novel does have its drawbacks. The plot pacing is occasionally choppy, and the characters' ages and actions may seem a bit farfetched to some adult readers. The decision to explore rebellion through drinking and drug use may feel forced and clichéd, diverging from the overall tone of the story.

The cover design is a standout feature, capturing attention with its eye-catching portrayal of Bobby Bae and Winter Park. The inclusion of Korean culture, even if minimal, adds an extra layer of enjoyment for readers interested in diverse perspectives.

The chemistry between the characters is a highlight, with Bobby and Winter's hate-to-love dynamic and witty banter keeping readers engaged. The resolution of their story with a fairytale ending provides a satisfying conclusion to their journey of self-discovery.

On the downside, the pacing issues and occasional overwhelming chapters may affect the overall reading experience. Additionally, the use of third-person point of view may not appeal to everyone, impacting the overall enjoyment of the narrative.

In conclusion, "Rules for Rule Breaking" is a solid debut novel that will resonate with YA romcom fans. Talia Tucker's exploration of friendship, rivalry, and love, combined with Korean American representation, makes this a promising addition to the genre. Despite some pacing issues and stylistic preferences, the book offers an enjoyable and heartwarming summer read for teens.

This was an interesting coming of age YA story. Rules for Rule Breaking follows Winter and Bobby as they take a road trip and visit college campuses around the country as they prepare for graduation and their futures. Winter and Bobby are childhood frenemies and academic rivals. They love pushing each other’s buttons and taking digs at each other. I found that while they each had things they were going through this was a pretty light story with a few more serious moments but never really straying from a surface level type story. It was a cute story with not tons of romance but a fun competitive slow burn friends to love interests.

The plot pacing was a little choppy and I personally thought at times the characters confused me. As an adult I know I’m not the target audience but I just found this story a little farfetched. I first thought Winter and Bobby were both 17 but at one point winter says as a 16 year old girl. So it was hard for me to picture a 16 year old and 17 year old would be running around traveling the country alone. Also I wasn’t the hugest fan of Bobby and Winter deciding that rebelling would be drinking and doing drugs and joking about breaking laws. This felt a bit forced and cliche that this is always the go to and just seemed a bit off for them. I did think there was some good self discovery and growth. I would have loved to see an epilogue or some type of future state of Winter and Bobby.

Overall I think teens will enjoy this fun banter filled college roadtrip story with academic rivals to lovers and great Korean American rep!

Huge thank you to Penguin Teen for gifting me an ARC

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc!!!!

I really enjoyed reading this book. I am not sure what to say right now. So this book follows Winter and Bobby as they are forced into a shared college trip. I enjoyed Winter's and Bobby's points of view. They just felt like teenagers trying to make the right choices for themselves. Seeing them break the rules and grow from their mistakes and new experiences was just so refreshing for me. I can not wait to read more from this author.

talia tucker's rules for rule breaking is young adult romance at its finest. for the author's debut novel, this book is extremely well done. bobby and winter's story is nothing short of charming. their road trip quarrels, their discoveries about one another, and the snippy/witty banter truly give the story life and natural appeal. this book is delightful, innately comforting, and humorous. i highly recommend to fans of ann liang, rachel lynn solomon, or emma mills. thank you to netgalley, penguinteen, and talia tucker for the arc!

Winter and Bobby have been "family friends" and rival for so long. As the two start looking at college their parents think it's a good idea for them to road trip together to knock them all out at once. They both disagree but decide to break a few rules if their parents plan to give them so much freedom.

I loved the idea of a road trip and enemies to lovers concept. Winter and Bobby had a lot of funny banter and her grandma was hilarious.

However I was very confused throughout the book. First of all Bobby has like 3 different names he goes by so I wasn't really sure what to call him so I stuck with Bobby. I was also confused because they are touring college and she said she beat him at the top spot but she's a year younger and grade below him. It's possible she moved up a grade at some point but in past tense she mentions being a grade below him.

The characters personalities also changed a lot in between the book because at one point Bobby is a super emotional person but then later in the book his character is talked about being rude and never being emotional so I was very confused.

The book overall felt very conflicting, the characters act a little more like 14 and 15 years old than almost adults going to college. I just don't think it was for me unfortunately.

Rules for Rule Breaking is a cute, fun book about two childhood friends who currently can't stand each other who are forced to take a college tour roadtrip together, and the surprising ways that their feelings toward each shift throughout that trip. I thought that the book was a great YA book for anyone who likes complex family histories and friendships.

3.6 rounded up to 4/5

In "Rules for Rule Breaking," Talia Tucker delivers a delightful YA rom-com featuring the academic rivals turned road trip companions, Winter Park and Bobby Bae. While the book is a quick and engaging read with entertaining moments, certain aspects, such as character conflicts and pacing, leave room for improvement.

The novel introduces familiar tropes, including academic rivals, a college tour road trip, and breaking rules for the first time. The vibrant cover and the promise of a fun journey make the book appealing, and it lives up to the expectations of being a cute and entertaining read.

The author successfully captures the essence of a road trip, with Winter and Bobby navigating the challenges of being stuck together for 700 miles. The engaging narrative and humorous situations keep readers entertained throughout. The book's exploration of self-discovery and the evolving relationship between the two protagonists adds depth to the overall story.

However, there are areas where the novel falls short. The conflicts involving Bobby and his family or Winter and her friend Emmy could have been more developed to provide a richer emotional landscape. The book's potential could have been better realized with deeper exploration of these conflicts.

Additionally, the pacing of the story feels uneven. There are moments where too much is happening, creating a sense of overwhelm for the reader. The road trip, a central element of the plot, feels rushed at times, leaving less room for the depth and detail that could have enhanced the overall experience.

The decision to use third-person POV may not be to everyone's taste, and while it doesn't necessarily detract from the story, it creates a certain distance from the characters. Incorporating more elements of Korean culture, given its significance to both families, could have added an enriching layer to the narrative.

In conclusion, "Rules for Rule Breaking" is a fun and engaging YA rom-com that delivers on the promise of a cute and quick read. Talia Tucker's debut novel has its strengths, but it could have benefited from deeper exploration of conflicts, more consistent pacing, and a closer connection to Korean culture. Despite its shortcomings, the book remains an enjoyable option for those seeking a lighthearted romantic comedy with academic rivalry and a road trip twist.

I absolutely adored this slow burn enemies-to-lovers rom com! It had amazing banter and jokes that had me snorting. The side characters were some of my favorite parts of the book (Halmeoni!!! iykyk). Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

I thought this was a very cute YA romcom that kept me interested in what the two main characters would do next. My only complaint is the pacing towards the ending. I love overachieving teen stories and this did not disappoint!

This book was cute but a little over the top. I still greatly enjoyed reading it though!

Thank you to the publisher and author for this ARC!

This book has Asian American identity, family friends turned rivals and a road trip to see colleges while breaking rules and breaking barriers.
Rules for Rule Breaking has Winter and Bobby breaking and pausing the rules they come up with. Their parents are family friends and they don't like each other but have to travel up the east coast to go explore schools
The characters were charming and they spend time reflecting on their relationships with friends, family and identity.

Funny and easy to read YA romcom. I really enjoyed the characters and their little quirks. Also the Asian American representation was appreciated. I laughed out loud at some of the scenes and went “aww” at some of the romantic moments. It was also great to read about a family dynamic similar to my own. Thank you!

Thank you to Penguinteen and Netgalley for an eARC.
This was really cute, I originally wanted to read this because I enjoy academic rivals to lovers, and slow burn romance. This is a cute fun read that also takes a look into Korean/Asian culture and some snippets of the asian-american experience of teens who want to learn more about their culture or weren't taught their native language by their parents. The character chemistry was fun but I had a bit of trouble staying engaged with the plot and the road trip. I think this falls more on the younger YA reading age and I tend to gravitate more towards upper YA. Non the less this was an enjoyable read.

3.5 stars/5

Really cute romcom with two adorable nerds both utterly focused and fun! Thanks fo r the arc! Would rec!

A massive thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!! I really enjoyed this book; definitely something I will tell my friends about!

Rating: 5/5 stars!
I loved reading this book so much! It’s a cute story involving two Korean-American academic rivals, Winter and Bobby. From the start, I was quickly intrigued by the dynamic between them. As we progress, we can truly see the development in their relationship, from avoiding each other at all costs to learning that this person is not only tolerable but fun to be with. Ever thought how you would never get along with someone and now you’re both inseparable?

As an 18-year-old, I relate to their experiences – the decision of what we wanna (or need to) be in the future, pre-university, and the realization of how things are changing so fast – and it made me love the book more. To be honest, I was expecting a timeskip at the end because I really wanted to know if they achieved their goals that we get reminded of a couple of times. However, I still enjoyed the ending that we got!

If you’re a Young Adult fan like me, I recommend you pick up Rules for Rule Breaking. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you to netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, Kokila for allowing me to read this book. This was such a cute and fun romance. I had a fun time reading this book.